Diocesan Arms
BLASON:
Party per fess, in chief Or two arrows in saltire points to chief Gules debruised by a Latin cross clechée Argent, in base Azure a church on a knoll Vert parted by a pale wavy Or between in dexter a tree and in sinister a sugarcane stalk all Proper.
DESCRIPTION:
The shield is divided horizontally into two equal parts, called “per fess” in heraldry.
In chief is a Tau Cross Tenné (brown) placed on a mount of three coupeaux Vert (green) on an Or (gold) field. The mount represents the hills that are reminiscent of the original landscape of Quezon City which geographically constitutes the Diocese of Cubao. Quezon City was tagged by its founder, Manuel L. Quezon, as “the city set on a hill.”
The Tau Cross that surmounts the mount reminds us of the first Franciscan missions founded by San Pedro Bautista, Spanish missionary and martyr, in San Francisco del Monte in the late 1500’s. The mission was originally intended to be a place of retreat (thus, Retiro) for the missionaries. The Tau Cross on top of the hill echoes the words of our Lord in Matthew 5: “Civitas supra montem posita non abscondi” (A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.)
The gold field suggests the light of Christ dispelling the darkness (Diliman, which used to be dark because of it being a heavily wooded place). It is a testament to the missionary character of the Diocese.
In base, the Azure (blue) tincture and the four Argent (silver) roses, are symbols of Mary. The roses stand for Our Lady of the Rosary – La Naval de Manila, the patroness of Quezon City as declared by Pope Paul VI on August 26, 1974. The heraldic metal Argent (white) stands for the Immaculate Conception, the titular of the Diocese. These roses complement the roses in the coat of arms of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, which allude to the patroness of his hometown in Aklan: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. The four roses also commemorate the Year of the Rosary in which the Diocese was founded. On that year, Pope John Paul II included the Mysteria Lucis to the former mysteries of the Rosary. The blue field stands for the profound Marian devotion of the Diocese. Cubao is home to three national Marian Shrines: Our Lady of the Rosary – La Naval de Manila in Quezon Avenue; Our Lady of Lourdes in Retiro; and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Manila, Quezon City.
(Designed by Rev. Fr. Michell Joe B. Zerrudo and Rev. Fr. Jose Tupino, III)
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FIRST BISHOP OF CUBAO
Honesto Flores Ongtioco
(June 28, 2003 - October 4, 2024)
DESCRIPTION:
The right shield is the coat-of-arms of the Diocese of Cubao.
The bishop’s coat-of-arms on the left shield signifies the singularity of his life’s commitment to his priestly calling. The pervading trait of this commitment depicted by the diagonal strip in royal blue which cuts across the shield is the humble recognition of the gratuitous gifts of God in faith, hope and charity. There wells up in him a serene, confident life in the Spirit. The three silver stars of ascending movement, in apparent variation of sizes, refer to the three theological virtues. St. Paul writes, “So faith, hope and charity remain, these three, but the greatest of these is charity” (1Cor 13:13).
The blue color expresses the bishop’s intense devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His life and ministry have always been directed by the maternal love of the Blessed Mother. The Patroness of his home diocese, the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga, is Mary, Our Lady of Remedies. He was ordained priest on December 8, 1972, feast of the Immaculate Conception. His first major assignment was in the Archdiocesan Seminary dedicated to Mary, Mother of Good Counsel. In Rome, the Patroness of Pontificio Collegio Filipino, where he stayed for eleven years, is also Mary, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. On March 25, 1998, feast of the Annunciation to Mary, his appointment as bishop was announced to him. Throughout his life’s journey, the Blessed Mother has always accompanied him with her intercession and protection. The bishop desires to imitate Mary’s example of docility and serenity in responding to God’s call.
The golden crown with a cross symbolizes St. Ferdinand, King of Spain and Patron of his hometown. Though he was bestowed with human honors and responsibilities, the saintly king recognized God’s sovereignty and understood his task as the Lord’s servant. The bishop sees his Episcopal position as a means not to be served but to serve as the Lord has done.
The white color expresses the purity of heart needed in being a child of God. “Blessed are pure of heart for they shall see God” (Mt. 5:3), says Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. This childlike trait is highlighted by the plain white field. It indicates the attentiveness, availability and constant readiness of a true servant of God to hear and heed God’s call.
The bishop’s motto, MAIOR AUTEM CARITAS – The greatest of these is charity, expresses his aspirations in his pastoral ministry. It serves as a challenge to him and an ardent prayer that his works of service be always characterized by the love of Jesus and the faithfulness of Mary.
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SECOND BISHOP OF CUBAO
Elias Lumayog Ayuban Jr., C.M.F.
(October 4, 2024 - Present)
DESCRIPTION:
As per ecclesiastical heraldic tradition, the coat of arms of the Bishop is impaled with the coat of arms of his jurisdiction, the Diocese of Cubao, symbolic of his spiritual marriage to his See. The dexter (viewer’s left) side has the place of honor in heraldry, thus the Diocese’s coat of arms is to be placed at the dexter.
On the sinister side is the personal coat of arms of the new Bishop, Elias Lumayog Ayuban, Jr., CMF.
In chief Or is the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Protectress of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, popularly known as the Claretian Missionaries, a religious institute of pontifical right named after their Father Founder, St. Anthony Mary Claret. The Bishop is a member of the Congregation and has served as Provincial Superior of the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province which comprises the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and Myanmar, since 2019.
On a fess rayonné Gules (red), that is, a fess with lines resembling flames, is an open scroll Argent in between two wheels in Or. These are symbols of the patron and namesake of the Bishop, the prophet Elijah, which means in Hebrew “Yahweh is my God”. Under the dictates of God, he courageously preached repentance to the Israelites, and was assumed to heaven by God through a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). The flames and the scroll also allude to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. The Claretians are Missionary Servants of the Word burning with the fire of God’s love and who spread its flames wherever they go.
In base Argent are two arms in saltire holding cups. These symbols are associated with the town of origin of the Bishop in Loay, Bohol, where the historic blood compact between Miguel López de Legazpi and Datu Sikatuna, chieftain of Bohol, took place on March 16, 1565.
The green galero with six tassels pendant at both sides, along with the episcopal cross, indicate that the bearer of the coat of arms is a Bishop.
“Misericordes sicut pater” is the Bishop’s motto, adapted from Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”